Homemade “Black Snake” Fireworks (Adult Supervision Required)

 - by KitchenPantryScientist

I usually only post experiments safe for kids of all ages, but couldn’t resist this guest post from Pat Mullin of Labconco Corporation. Adult supervision is absolutely required due to the alcohol (a few tablespoons), which you light on fire to start the reaction.
As a kid, I remember watching long carbon worms emerge from glowing tablets our parents lit with matches on Independence Day. Pat’s video shows how (with the help of an adult), you can make your own “black snake” fireworks using only sand, powdered sugar, baking soda and denatured alcohol or ethanol. Very cool!

He does the experiment in a fume hood, but ethanol and denatured alcohol burn clean, so it’s perfectly safe to do in the driveway, with kids standing at a safe distance. Can’t wait to try it! Happy Fourth of July!

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